The University of Tennessee at Knoxville

It is moderately difficult to get into The University of Tennessee. The acceptance rate at The University of Tennessee is 68%. Out of 36,290 applications received in 2023, 24,826 students were offered admission.

If you are applying to The University of Tennessee, the fee for the application costs $50.

The University of Tennessee Admissions Stats at a Glance

The following is an overiew of some of The University of Tennessee's admissions stats.

The University of Tennessee 2023	Admissions Statistics
Mean Unweighted GPA	4.0
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class	34%
Mean SAT Score	1235
Admissions Test Policy	Not optional
Applicants Who Submit SATs	21%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs	59%
Waitlist	Yes

The University of Tennessee Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for The University of Tennessee.

Application Type	Offered	Application Deadline	Notification Deadline
Early Decision I	No	–	–
Early Decision II	–	–	–
Early Action	Yes	November 1	December 15

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Want to Apply Early to The University of Tennessee?

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The University of Tennessee does not offer early decision but does offer early action.

🗓️ The Early Action deadline is November 1. The University of Tennessee will release EA admissions decisions no later than December 15.

The University of Tennessee accepts about 76% of early action applicants and 68% all applicants for all deadlines. Last year, The University of Tennessee admitted 2,418 of the 26,96 who applied early action.

Some students apply to college early to boost their chances of being offering admission. When you apply early, your application is considered before all the regular decision applicants apply. Applying early may increase the chance of admission, since it is a way to show that you are very interested in a school.

➡️ Explore a list of some selective colleges that accept significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.

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More on The University of Tennessee Admissions

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Is The University of Tennessee Challenging To Get Into?

The University of Tennessee is a moderately difficult school to get into. The University of Tennessee evaluates applicants carefully based on multiple criteria to decide who to admit, and who to deny or waitlist.

In 2022, The University of Tennessee accepted 68% of students, about 24,826 from 36,290 applicants.

Schools that are moderately difficult to get into, like The University of Tennessee, accept fewer than 85% of all applicants. At least 75% of all admitted students have GPAs in the top 50% of their high school class and scored over 1010 on the SAT or over 18 on the ACT. Admissions to architecture, engineering, business, nursing programs is program very difficult.

Transferring to The University of Tennessee

Transfer student admissions is not difficult.

For Students Waitlisted to The University of Tennessee

In 2022, The University of Tennessee waitlisted 2,198 students and 930 accepted a place on the waitlist. Of those, 140 eventually received an admissions offer.

What Does The University of Tennessee Look For in an Applicant?

Colleges consider a range of factors when deciding who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college determines which factors are they consider most important in the admissions process. When assembling your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and choose schools that put the most emphasis on the areas where you shine.

Admissions Factors at The University of Tennessee

What does The University of Tennessee consider during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor	Level
Academic GPA	Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record	Very Important
Application Essay	Important
Standardized Test Scores	Important
Character/Personal Qualities	Considered
Extracurricular Activities	Considered
Geographical Residence	Considered
Recommendation(s)	Considered
State Residency	Considered
Talent/Ability	Considered
Volunteer Work	Considered
Work Experience	Considered

Make sure to check with The University of Tennessee for more information on admission factors.

The University of Tennessee 2022-2023 Application Requirements

To apply to The University of Tennessee, all applicants must submit the following items. Check with The University of Tennessee's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area	Required	Recommended	Required for Some	Details (If Any)
Letter(s) of Recommendation	–	1	–	–
Transcript(S) of College Record	–	–	–	–
Minimum High School GPA (On 4.0 Scale)	2.0	–	–
Written Essay or Personal Statement	√	–	–	–
Transcript of High School Record	√	–	–	–

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GPA and Testing

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What GPA Do I Need To Get Into The University of Tennessee?

Students admitted to The University of Tennessee have an average unweighted GPA of 4.0. The University of Tennessee considers weighted GPA scores from incomging students.

Out of all students that were admitted, 33% submitted a class rank. At The University of Tennessee 34% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 64% were in the top 25% and 92% were in the top 50%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At The University of Tennessee, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA	Percent of Students
4.0 GPA	62%
3.75 and 3.99	17%
3.50 and 3.74	12%
3.25 and 3.49	6%
3.00 and 3.24	3%
2.50 and 2.9	–
2.00 and 2.49	–

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to The University of Tennessee directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that reflects your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

The University of Tennessee does not have a test optional admissions policy. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 21% of The University of Tennessee's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 59% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for The University of Tennessee?

To be competitive with other The University of Tennessee applicants, you should strive to score between 1180 and 1320 (or higher!) on the SAT. At The University of Tennessee 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1320 and 25% of scored lower than 1180, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.The mean composite SAT score for a The University of Tennessee student is 1235.

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of The University of Tennessee students scored 670 or higher and 75% of students scored 590 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of The University of Tennessee students scored 660 or higher, and 75% scored a 590 or higher.

To be most competitive at The University of Tennessee, you should strive to earn between 25 and 31 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 31 means you fall in the 75th percentile for The University of Tennessee's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 31, and three out of four students scored lower than 31 on the ACT.

A 25 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for The University of Tennessee students. Only one out of every four students scored below 25.

More Information on Transferring to The University of Tennessee

For transfer students, it is not difficult to get admitted to The University of Tennessee.

For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is July 1. Transfer applications are processed on a on a rolling basis as they are received.

Transfer students can enroll in The University of Tennessee during the following terms:

• Fall Term

• Winter Term

• Spring Term

• Winter Term

• Summer Term

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The University of Tennessee Admissions FAQs

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Can I defer my acceptance to The University of Tennessee?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to The University of Tennessee.

Does The University of Tennessee accept transfer credits?

✅ The University of Tennessee accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions. The University of Tennessee accepts:

• CLEP subject tests • DSST/DANTES

Does The University of Tennessee accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ The University of Tennessee accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to The University of Tennessee?

✅ The University of Tennessee is not test optional.

What is The University of Tennessee's acceptance rate?

✅ The University of Tennessee has an acceptance rate of 68%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at The University of Tennessee?

❌ The University of Tennessee does not offer early decision.

What is the early action acceptance rate at The University of Tennessee?

✅ The early action acceptance rate at The University of Tennessee was 76% in 2021.

Want To Learn More About The University of Tennessee?

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